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Benjamin Jennings |
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Since my freshman year I have had the
opportunity to participate in three seperate
internships at three different institutions.
In 2004, the summer after my freshman year, I
had the opportunity to do research at the
University of Idaho's Microelectronics
Research and Communications Institute
(MRCI). There I conducted research involving
the use of a genetic algorithm to train
artificial neural netoworks controlling a
biologically realistic model of a human
arm. While at the University of Idaho I was
able to contribute significantly to the
project I was involved in and as a result I
was included as an author in the resulting
paper published at the 2005 International
Joint Conference on Neural Networks in
Montreal, Canada.
The summer of 2005 I conducted research at
Columbia University's Materials Research
Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). There
I was able to explore the novel synthesis of
transition metal nano-crystals. New York City
is an enriching place to spend the summer,
especially as a college student. Not only was
I able to participate in interesting research
but I was spent my evenings exploring
Manhattan going to broadway shows, museums,
jazz clubs, dance clubs, and even the ballet.
During summer 2006, I had the opportunity to
conduct research at Humboldt State University
through the National Science Foundations
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Program. While there I was given the task of
developing a graphical user interface for a
video analysis software used to count salmon
in underwater video footage. Now complete,
this program will enable biologists to quickly
analyse footage helping them to provide
immediate and accurate salmon population
estimations. The internship was well
organized, I had the opportunity to work on my
own as well as to collaborate with faculty and
other students. The other interns were
wonderful people from universities all over
the United States, they came from many
different disciplines including Computer
Science, Aerospace Engineering, Polymer
Science, Mathematics, and Education. Also
Arcata, CA is amazing, situated on the coast
with the ocean on one side and the redwood
forest on the other, it was a beautiful place
to spend the summer.
All told I've had the opportunity to conduct
research on both coasts, from the most rural
to the ultimate of urban environments, working
with scientists and students from dozens of
different countries and disciplines,
developing relationships that have and will in
the future open doors I've never even
imagined.
All of these opportunities were made possible
by the National Science Foundation's Research
Experience for Undergraduates Program.
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